Boehringer Ingelheim’s pledge to support the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) at the University of Mainz, Germany, with EUR 100 million for a period of ten years represents a milestone in the history of the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation. The purpose of this donation, announced in 2009, is to foster an international life sciences centre of excellence for top-level research that will complement the research already conducted in Mainz. The IMB will meet international standards for cutting-edge research in terms of size and equipment available and offer top working conditions for leading researchers.

As one of the first institutions to help up-and-coming scientists in Germany to create independent research groups, the foundation also sponsors research projects in medicine, chemistry, pharmacy and biology throughout Germany.

The official opening ceremony of the IMB was conducted in March 2011. The founding director of the IMB, Professor Christof Niehrs, is one of the world's leading cell and developmental biologists.

Research at the IMB concentrates on three areas: developmental biology, epigenetics and DNA repair. The knowledge gained about these fundamental biological phenomena from basic research will provide more insight into processes such as ageing and the development of diseases like cancer. The IMB thus combines longterm basic research with its potential to be of benefit to patients.

In addition to the group of Professor Niehrs, several Junior Researcher Groups and two Senior Research Groups have already taken up their work at the IMB.

The IMB and its affiliation with the Johannes Gutenberg University aim to strengthen the international biomedical research in Mainz and, as such, to attract leading scientists as well.